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One of our favorite things about American Express is the number of ways that you can redeem Membership Rewards points. If you’re looking for the highest-value redemptions, you’ll want to start with our guide to booking award travel with Amex transfer partners. While it takes more effort, transfer partners make it possible to travel at a fraction of the typical cost. However, if you’re looking to save money on flights, hotels, car rentals, cruises, and more, the Amex Travel portal can offer excellent choices that are simple to find and book.
Here's a guide to all you need to know about Amex Travel®.
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What Is American Express Travel®?
The Amex Travel portal is a booking engine that allows you to book flights, hotels, rental cars, travel packages, vacation rentals, and cruises through American Express. You can make reservations with Membership Rewards points, cash, or a combination of the two.
What Are Membership Rewards Worth When Used on Amex Travel?
When redeemed through American Express Travel®, Membership Rewards carry a fixed value. For flights, you'll get a value of 1¢ per point but just 0.7¢ per point on hotel, rental car, packages, vacation rental, and cruise bookings.
This value is comparatively lower than what AwardWallet users get when redeeming Membership Rewards with an Amex transfer partner. With airline partners, our readers typically use Amex points at 1.96¢ apiece — over twice the value of redeeming the points on Amex Travel.
How Many Points Does My Amex Card Earn on Portal Bookings?
Four Amex cards offer bonus Membership Rewards points per dollar you spend on portal bookings — up to 5x. Here's a breakdown of what these cards earn when used for Amex Travel reservations:
- American Express® Gold Card: 3X points on flights and 2X points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on AmexTravel.com.
- American Express® Business Gold Card: 3X points on flights and pre-paid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
- The Platinum Card® from American Express: 5X points on prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
- The Business Platinum Card® from American Express: 5X points on flights and prepaid hotels booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 60,000 Membership Rewards® Points after you spend $6,000 on eligible purchases on your new Card in your first 6 months of Card Membership.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on purchases at restaurants worldwide, on up to $50,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 4X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent at US supermarkets, on up to $25,000 in purchases per calendar year, then 1X points for the rest of the year.
- Earn 3X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on flights booked directly with airlines or on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 2X Membership Rewards® points per dollar spent on prepaid hotels and other eligible purchases booked on AmexTravel.com.
- Earn 1X Membership Rewards® point per dollar spent on all other eligible purchases.
- $120 Uber Cash on Gold: Add your Gold Card to your Uber account and get $10 in Uber Cash each month to use on orders and rides in the U.S. when you select an American Express Card for your transaction. That's up to $120 Uber Cash annually. Plus, after using your Uber Cash, use your Card to earn 4X Membership Rewards® points for Uber Eats purchases made at restaurants or U.S. supermarkets. Point caps and terms apply.
- $84 Dunkin' Credit: With the $84 Dunkin' Credit, you can earn up to $7 in monthly statement credits after you enroll and pay with the American Express® Gold Card at U.S. Dunkin' locations.
- $100 Resy Credit: Get up to $100 in statement credits each calendar year after you pay with the American Express® Gold Card to dine at U.S. Resy restaurants or make other eligible Resy purchases. That's up to $50 in statement credits semi-annually. Enrollment required.
- $120 Dining Credit: Satisfy your cravings, sweet or savory, with the $120 Dining Credit. Earn up to $10 in statement credits monthly when you pay with the American Express® Gold Card at Grubhub, The Cheesecake Factory, Goldbelly, Wine.com, and Five Guys. Enrollment required.
- Explore over 1,000 upscale hotels worldwide with The Hotel Collection and receive a $100 credit towards eligible charges* with every booking of two nights or more through AmexTravel.com. *Eligible charges vary by property.
- No Foreign Transaction Fees.
- Annual Fee is $325.
- Apply with confidence. Know if you're approved for a Card with no impact to your credit score. If you're approved and you choose to accept this Card, your credit score may be impacted.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- 4X Membership Rewards® Points at restaurants worldwide, plus takeout and delivery in the U.S. (on up to $50,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 4X Membership Rewards® points at U.S. supermarkets (on up to $25,000 per year in purchases, then 1X)
- 3X Membership Rewards® points on flights booked directly with airlines or on amextravel.com
- 2X Membership Rewards® points on prepaid hotels and other eligible travel booked on amextravel.com
- 1X on other eligible purchases
Two additional cards indirectly offer bonus points on Amex Travel bookings: The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express and the American Express® Green Card.
- Amex Green Card: 3X points on travel and 3X points on transit including trains, buses, ferries, subways, and more.
- Blue Business Plus: 2X points on everyday business purchases (on the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter).
- Earn 15,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $3,000 in eligible purchases on the Card within your first 3 months of Card Membership.
- 0.0% intro APR on purchases for 12 months from the date of account opening, then a variable rate, 17.49% - 27.49%, based on your creditworthiness and other factors at account opening. APR will not exceed 29.99%
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
- You've got the power to spend beyond your credit limit* with Expanded Buying Power. *The amount you can spend above your credit limit is flexible, so it adapts with your use of the Card, your payment history, credit record, financial resources known to us, and other factors. Just remember, the amount you can spend with Expanded Buying Power is not unlimited.
- No Annual Fee
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 2X points on everyday business purchases such as office supplies or client dinners. 2X applies to the first $50,000 in purchases per year, 1 point per dollar thereafter. Terms and limitations apply.
Related: Best Credit Cards for Travel Purchases
How to Book Flights Through Amex Travel
American Express makes booking flights through the Amex Travel portal extremely simple. After logging into the portal using your American Express credentials, the next step is entering the details for the reservation you're trying to make — whether a flight, hotel, cruise, package, vacation rental, or rental car.
Take a flight, for example, from Boston (BOS) to London Heathrow (LHR). After initiating your search, you'll likely see several results, including featured and non-featured itineraries. Any option you see will show the cash price and the price denominated in Membership Rewards. To book, select the flight you wish to take and proceed through the process of entering your personal details.
Next, you'll be asked to select your payment option. Whether paying entirely with points or using a mix of cash and points, you will receive the same value at 1 cent per point. You can use as little as one Amex point here.
Changes made to tickets may result in a difference in the fare, for which you'll be responsible. Typical airline rules and restrictions apply, so understand the change and cancelation policies of the airline before hitting the blue “Book Flight” button.
During your flight search, you might find “Insider Fares” that offer a discounted price. You must redeem points to cover the entire fare to take advantage of the deal. Insider Fares can offer significant savings, though, so it could be worth using points here.
But no matter what, one of the big perks of booking flights through Amex Travel is that you'll still earn frequent-flyer miles on your trip — alongside any Amex points you'll collect on the reservation. However, if your flight is part of a larger “Hotel + Flight” package, you won't earn extra miles on your booking.
Related: All of the Cards That Earn American Express Membership Rewards Points
International Airline Program (IAP)
Those with Platinum and Centurion cards from American Express have exclusive access to the International Airline Program benefit. The benefit offers discounts on premium-cabin fares to international destinations with over 30 airlines. Select qualifying flights will be highlighted by a banner in your search results. And again, flights booked via Amex Travel are typically treated as regular paid tickets, meaning you can earn points or miles with participating airline loyalty programs.
If you have the Amex Platinum, Business Platinum Card, or Centurion® Card from American Express, you can take advantage of these perks.
When booking through the International Airline Program, cardmembers earn 5x Membership Rewards on flights when paying with the Amex Platinum or Business Platinum Card. With the Business Platinum Card, you also can get 35% of redeemed points back on eligible tickets purchased entirely or partially with Membership Rewards points (up to 1 million points back annually).
Note: 5X earning rates on flights purchased directly with airlines or via American Express Travel® using The Platinum Card® from American Express are limited to the first $500,000 spent annually. After this limit, you'll earn 1X.
Eligible flights for this rebate include first- and business-class tickets with any airline as well as any fare class with your pre-selected qualifying airline booked through Amex Travel (this is the same airline as your annual airline incidental credits). Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
There are restrictions to note when booking through the IAP, such as:
- The cardmember must be traveling.
- Cardmembers may travel alone or bring up to seven additional travelers.
- Travel must begin and end in the U.S. or Canada, and you must book an international flight.
- Tickets are non-refundable unless otherwise indicated.
- Tickets are non-transferable.
- Name changes are not allowed.
- Economy-class tickets are not included; you must book premium economy, business, or first class.
How to Book Hotels Through Amex Travel
Booking hotels through Amex Travel is also simple. When you search, you'll enter the destination, the check-in and check-out dates, the number of rooms, and the number of travelers.
Once you select a hotel, you'll choose a room and continue to pay, and you can do so with points, cash, or a combination of the two. If you pay with Membership Rewards, you'll only get a value of 0.7 cents per point.
Hotel bookings made through Amex Travel are third-party reservations, meaning you are unlikely eligible to earn points, stay credits, or have your hotel status recognized. Take this into consideration if you're chasing hotel elite status.
Fine Hotels + Resorts®
Amex Centurion Card, Amex Platinum, and Business Platinum Card holders can access the Fine Hotels + Resorts program. With each booking, you'll receive the following suite of benefits:
- 12 p.m. check-in.
- Room upgrades, based on availability at check-in.
- Daily breakfast for two.
- $100 on-property credit, which can be used for food and beverage, spa services, private transfers, and more.
- Complimentary Wi-Fi.
- Guaranteed 4 p.m. checkout.
- Early check-in at noon, based on availability.
Amex Platinum cardholders also can receive up to $200 back in statement credits annually on prepaid bookings using the card through the Fine Hotels + Resorts program or The Hotel Collection (which has a two-night minimum on bookings). Enrollment is required for select Amex benefits.
Related: How to Use the Amex Platinum Card's $200 Hotel Credit
The Hotel Collection
Amex has a second hotel program called The Hotel Collection. These bookings have a two-night minimum, but the program is accessible to more people. In addition to Platinum and Centurion cardmembers, those with the American Express® Gold Card and American Express® Business Gold Card are eligible for complimentary room upgrades (when available at check-in) and a $100 experience credit. The experience credit varies by hotel, but it's typically applicable to food and beverage, spa services, a round of golf, airport transfers, and more.
Amex Platinum cardholders can use their $200 in annual hotel credits on prepaid bookings with either Fine Hotels + Resorts or The Hotel Collection.
How To Book Vacation Rentals Through Amex Travel
If you prefer vacation rentals to hotels, or a specific trip requires more space, you can use Amex Travel to reserve homes and condos in select areas. To book, select one of 14 available booking regions and your intended travel dates. Note that reservations must be for at least two nights.
At the time of writing, only the following areas offer vacation rental accommodations:
- Panhandle, Florida
- Breckenridge, Colorado
- Big Island, Hawaii
- Cape Cod, Massachusetts
- Charleston, South Carolina
- Lake Tahoe — California and Nevada
- Orlando, Florida
- Park City, Utah
- Palm Springs, California
- Snowmass, Colorado
- San Diego Beaches, California
- Vail/Beaver Creek, Colorado
- West Coast, Florida
Select Homes + Retreats is a relatively new addition to Amex Travel, so it's likely that this list will continue to expand. Moreover, booking vacation rentals through Amex Travel is limited to those with an Amex Platinum or Business Platinum Card.
It's worth noting that the majority of bookable properties are managed by Vacasa. You can also book Vacasa rentals using Wyndham Rewards and through Capital One Travel, so it's worth comparing prices and taking inventory of the points you have before booking. You might get a better deal on your rental elsewhere.
Related: How To Use Points and Miles for Vacation Home Rentals
How To Book Hotel and Flight Packages Through Amex Travel
If you need to book both a flight and a hotel and want to bundle them into a single package, Amex Travel has you covered. Click on the “Hotel + Flight” option on the booking widget and enter your point of origin and your destination.
Amex will have you select a hotel first and then your flights. It's a quick and easy process to pull together a package.
While Amex Travel will show you how much you're saving by booking a package instead of reserving your trip elements individually, it's still worth pricing each option on its own and comparing to the package price. This ensures you're not overpaying for the convenience of booking through Amex Travel, or just for bundling your trip.
You can redeem Membership Rewards points towards Hotel + Flight packages at a rate of 0.7¢ per point. However, there's a big asterisk with redeeming points for — or just outright booking — an Amex Travel vacation package. Per Amex's FAQs page:
“Do I earn additional rewards when I book airfare through American Express Travel? You will earn additional rewards when you book airfare with American Express Travel. You will NOT earn additional rewards if the airfare purchase is part of a vacation package.”
So, if you prefer to earn frequent flyer miles on the flight portion of your package, you're better off booking each trip element individually.
How To Book Rental Cars Through Amex Travel
Booking a rental car on Amex Travel involves inputting a pick-up location and the date and time for pick-up and drop-off.
Similar to both flights and hotels, you will have the option to pay in points or cash. Points are worth just 0.7¢ apiece here.
The rental car booking process also permits paying now or later. The terms and prices may vary depending on which option you choose. Read them carefully before continuing with the booking process.
As these are third-party bookings, you may forego your rental car elite status benefits. That means you won't get perks like free upgrades and will need to wait in line to pick up your vehicle rather than going straight to the lot.
How To Book Cruises Through Amex Travel
To book a cruise through Amex Travel, type in your intended destination, a cruise line, and a sailing date. After beginning the search, you can narrow down the exact itinerary and departure location.
The payment process is identical to every other travel method. When checking out, you can redeem points, pay in cash, or use a mix of both. If you choose to redeem Membership Rewards, you can do so for 0.7 cents per point.
Cruise Privileges Program
Amex Centurion Card, Business Platinum Card, and Amex Platinum cardmembers can take advantage of the Cruise Privileges Program for extra benefits on bookings of five nights or more.
The benefits include an up to $300 per stateroom onboard credit redeemable for dining, spa treatments, and more. Other unique amenities, such as premium wines, may be available depending on your chosen cruise line. To qualify for the benefits, the card member must be cruising.
How To Redeem Amex Points for Travel
On the last page of the booking process, you'll find an option to redeem Membership Rewards for travel. This holds true whether you're booking flights, rental cars, hotels, or cruises. If you choose to apply Membership Rewards to your booking, you can do so for the entirety of the amount or a portion of it.
When It Makes Sense to Book with Amex Travel
There are a few things to consider when booking through Amex Travel. Here's what you should think about:
Is the price competitive?
Before booking with Amex Travel, it's worthwhile to do due diligence and compare price options. You might find a better deal by booking directly with a carrier or provider, such as an airline or hotel, through another portal, or even through Google Flights.
Be sure to compare prices unless you're trying to cash in a specific benefit, such as the $200 in prepaid hotel statement credits afforded on the Amex Platinum. It could save you some money.
Will my travel plans change?
If your travel plans change or you need to cancel a booking made through Amex Travel, you must contact American Express' helpline. A representative will inform you of any changes or cancellation fees. Amex Travel generally allows a 24-hour cancellation window for most reservations.
Some providers may also allow you to modify your reservation yourself. Remember that each airline, hotel, cruise, and rental car company has unique change and cancellation policies, so do sufficient research before making any changes.
Can my Membership Rewards be redeemed for more value elsewhere?
When redeemed on Amex Travel, Membership Rewards are worth 1 cent per point on flights and 0.7 cents per point on hotel, cruise, and rental car reservations. AwardWallet users typically redeem them at 1.96¢ per point when using Amex's transfer partners.
Essentially, the answer is yes, Membership Rewards can be redeemed for more value elsewhere. However, if you want to offset the cash cost of a booking, redeeming points via Amex Travel can be beneficial.
Should I book with Amex Travel?
If the price is competitive, you're comfortable with the points and miles earnings (or lack thereof), and you understand the change and cancelation policies, booking through Amex Travel could be a great idea. If you might need to change your plans, prefer to take advantage of hotel status, or seek a more valuable return on your Membership Rewards redemption, you should book elsewhere.
When doing the math, ensure you understand the final price after any rebates. That math might change if you find a great deal on a business-class flight and can get 35% of your points back with the Business Platinum Card. Be sure to take these benefits into account.
- Limited Time Travel Offer: Earn 150,000 Membership Rewards® points after you spend $20,000 on eligible purchases on your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. Plus, earn a $500 statement credit after you spend $2,500 on qualifying flights booked directly with airlines or through American Express Travel with your Business Platinum Card® within the first 3 months of Card Membership. You can earn one or both of these offers. Offer ends 6/30/25.
- The American Express Global Lounge Collection® can provide an escape at the airport. With complimentary access to more than 1,400 airport lounges across 140 countries and counting, you have more airport lounge options than any other credit card issuer on the market as of 10/2024.
- Unlock over $1,000 in statement credits on select purchases, including tech, recruiting and wireless in the first year of membership with the Business Platinum Card®. Enrollment required.
- Fly like a pro with a $200 Airline Fee Credit. Select one qualifying airline to receive up to $200 back per year on baggage fees and other incidentals.
- NEW! Make the Business Platinum Card® work even harder for you. Hilton For Business members get up to $200 back per calendar year when you make an eligible purchase at Hilton properties across the globe. Benefit enrollment required.
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points for flights, prepaid hotels, and short-term rentals and prepaid flight + hotel packages booked at AmexTravel.com. 1X points on other eligible purchases.
- Earn 1.5X points (that's an extra half point per dollar) on each eligible purchase at US construction material, hardware suppliers, electronic goods retailers, and software & cloud system providers, and shipping providers, as well as on purchases of $5,000 or more, on up to $2 million per Card Account per calendar year. Purchases eligible for multiple additional point bonuses will only receive the highest eligible bonus.
- $199 CLEAR® Plus Credit: Use your card and get up to $199 in statement credits per calendar year on your CLEAR® Plus Membership (subject to auto-renewal) when you use the Business Platinum Card®.
- $695 Annual Fee.
- Terms Apply.
- Rates & Fees
- Earn 5X Membership Rewards® points on flights and prepaid hotels on amextravel.com.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase of $5,000 or more.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. construction material and hardware suppliers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. electronic goods retailers and software & cloud system providers.
- Earn 1.5X Membership Rewards® points on each eligible purchase with U.S. shipping providers.
- 1.5X earning rates are subject to a cap of $2 million in purchases per calendar year.
Bottom Line
The Amex Travel portal is a convenient way to book travel and definitely worth a look the next time you plan a trip.
American Express cardholders can take advantage of many benefits affiliated with going through the portal, such as the International Airline Program, hotel experience credits, cruise perks, and more.
While the return on Membership Rewards might be low compared to using transfer partners, the ability to pay in points, cash, or a combination could be a helpful money-saving mechanism when travel costs are high.
Have you booked a trip through Amex Travel? What did you think the best feature was?
For rates and fees of the cards mentioned in this post, please visit the following links: American Express® Gold Card (Rates & Fees), The Blue Business® Plus Credit Card from American Express (Rates & Fees), and The Business Platinum Card® from American Express (Rates & Fees)
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